Recently, I was asked to speak at our high school chapel about the story of Christmas. It was a great privilege to do so, and it is one I never take lightly. I asked the Lord what He desired to communicate with the audience. One of the thoughts that came to me was, “why did God choose the shepherds and the wise men to tell them about the birth of His son?
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Luke 2:8-18
The shepherds were doing their usual job when the angel met them. Once the angel announced the birth of Christ, they could have procrastinated and waited a while. They certainly had plenty of excuses not to go see the baby right away since they were out in the fields with their sheep, but the scripture tells us that they came in haste. Their spiritual hunger must have compelled them to go in haste and see Christ. They knew that they were not going to see just an ordinary baby! In simplicity of faith the shepherds believed that this vulnerable baby will some day be their savior!
How many times a group of shepherds would have ever been noticed out in the fields? Most likely not very often if ever. Nevertheless, God chose to speak to them. The shepherds would have been considered at the bottom of the totem pole of society in respect to social class, education, wealth, or status, but God is not a respecter of man. He chose them because of simplicity of their hearts and their openness to the truth.
The Lord chose the shepherds to be the first group of people to hear about the Good News. The shepherds in turn were faithful to share what they had seen and heard. They did not waste any time to tell others what God had so graciously chosen to share with them.
As we go about our days this week and this month, let’s be open to share the Good News of the gospel with anyone that God puts across our path regardless of their look, dress, zip code, or what they drive.
